Side-by-Side Comparison
RAM
DDR3 vs. DDR4
Comparing 2 standards across 5 specifications. 5 key differences identified.
Comparing:
DDR3
DDR4
DDR3, standardized in 2007, kept DDR2's 240-pin DIMM count but switched from a rounded to a square notch in a different position, making the two physically incompatible despite the matching pin count. It dropped voltage to 1.5V (1.35V for the low-power DDR3L variant) and raised data rates up to DDR3-2133.
DDR4's spec was finalized in September 2012, though it didn't reach the commercial market until 2014. It moved to a 288-pin DIMM and 260-pin SO-DIMM, dropped voltage to 1.2V, and started at a minimum of 2133 MT/s -- roughly double DDR3's starting point.
Specification Comparison Table
5 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
JEDEC Standard
|
2007 | September 2012 (spec); 2014 (commercial market) |
|
DIMM Pins
|
240 (same count as DDR2; different notch shape and position -- not compatible) | 288 |
|
SO-DIMM Pins
|
204 | 260 |
|
Nominal Operating Voltage
|
1.5 (1.35V for DDR3L low-voltage variant) V | 1.2 V |
|
Data Rate Range
|
800–2133 (DDR3-800 to DDR3-2133) MT/s | 1600–3200 (JEDEC); commercially up to ~4800 overclocked MT/s |